LETTERS TO THE DAY

On Saturday, April 4, 2009, in the Day, in Section One, on page A4, under Letters to the Day, was the following letter. Please read it, you might find it informative.

LETTERS TO THE DAY .........Tribal annexation too costly for taxpayers.............."This is regarding the article titled"""Congress weighs effect of Supreme Court decision on tribal annexation," published April 2...............The following line from the article shows that the reason that annexation and federal recognition are desired is to fleece the taxpayers to pay for their government services ---rather than taxing themselves as other governments do. ..........."A panel of experts warned the committee....that a change in the status of tribal land could affect money for schools, hospitals and businesses on tribal lands."...........Curious, isn't it, that tribes see an injustice in having tow levels of tribes, but not in having tow levels of citizens: tribal and non-tribal"..........B.P., North Stonnington.

The reason, I posted this letter from the day, is because I believe it is important that tribal members understand how the general public of Connecticut view land issues by both federally recognized tribes and other business interest. In my opinion, it is obvious from the letter writers comments, that she did not understand the difference between annexation and land into trust.

The Mohegan Tribal Government (especially the Tribal Council and Council of Elders) need to do a better job on informing the people of Connecticut on these issues. We (the Mohegan Tribe) are not doing a very good job on this front. How can we do a better job? Do you know? Does the Tribal Council know? What do you think?